The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-06
Cause of prouth and Cyclones.

OF Hon. Thos. E. Hill, author of "Hills
Manual" and other works, and is SO
timely, and touches so clearly upon q
subject OF such vital Importance to this
whole country, that we ask for it care
full perusal by our readers. Mr.. Hill says:
During recent journey to Europe
the passage across the ocean was especi-
ally unpleasant because OF fogs, the only
consolation in contemplating them being
that they represented the work of Nature
in drawing moisture from the water,
which, waited inland, fell upon the soil
in refreshing rain, gathered in the brooks
and rivers and flowed to the sea, to be
again thus sent back to freshen and
brighten the parched earth.
The speed of our vessel was materially
retarded by winds from the west, COM
mon occurrence in the summer season.
The fogs and moisture through these
winds are driven upon the Continent,
where drouth seldom prevails, and par
ticularly do they freshen the verdure of
Ireland, and hence the brilliant green of
the Emerald Isle.
In rejecting upon this subject, I con-
templsted the drouth then prevailing in
several OF the Western and Middle States
OF the Union. What had they to gather
rains from? Alas, what have they2 For
ageneration our farmers have been drain
ing their lands Of moisture. They have
run their tileing through every slough:
they have drawn out the water from every
swamp; they have dried up the pond,
they have obliterated the beautiful little
lake. In doing this they have made such
easy and rapid egress for rainfall from
the soil, as to endanger the homes and
farm lands of all the settlers along the
great rivers in the Southern regions of
our country, already inficting great dis
tress, loss OF life and property equaling
in value many millions of dollars-an evil
which is growing in magnitude each
year.
The result of this wholesale draining
OF the upper country of water is not only
thus disastrous to life and property along
the larger streams from frequent over
flow, but there is such absolute drainage
OF moisture from the earth as to produce
severe drouth, accompanied by such in
tense heat and dryness of atmosphere as
results in the hurricane, the cyclone and
innumerable village, prairie aud forest
fires.
In the early days when the process of
evaporation of moisture went forward
from the swamps, the ponds and lakes of
our Western and Middle States, an ex-
tended drouth with extremely intense
heat, was comparatively rare. In those
days sun-stroke was very uncommon, and
the cyclone was comparatively unknown.
This year we are in the second season of
drouth in various portions Of the country
while every year brings its devastation
from wind, the result of an excessively
dry and frequently disturbed condition of
the atmosphere.
With the land thus denuded of natural
water supply, there is but one course for
our farmers to pursue to save themselves
from these evils. They may drain their
soil, but they should gather the rainfall
in ponds and lakes scattered throughout
their lands. Instead of running the
drains through and out of the swamp
they should lead to an excavation of such
size as circumstances will permit, which
should be made at depth of three or
four feet, where the water can gather and
will remain throughout the year, quench-
ing the thirst of animals, giving drink to
birds, reservoir in case of fire, home
for fish, spot of beauty on which may
sail the boat, an opportunity for the bath
and for teaching the young people to
swim. 1t will yield ice for the family,
provide skating for the happy youth in
winter time, and moisture, which, through
evaporation, will pass into the cloud to be
returned again through rainfall to the
needy earth.
No fear need be entertained of stagna-
ton from water thus held in reserve.
Fish will of themselves purify it. Every
rain will change it, while, if the lake COW
ers an acre or more in area, the wind will
constantly keep it pure. The writer, in
proof of this, has an artificial lake on his
Farm, the result of dredging a swamp
which is filed only by rainfall, the water
being, in the dryest season, perfectly clear
and fresh.
On the low lands the general abandon
ment of farms and homes from river over
flow will be the inevitable outcome OF
this water wastage in the high grounds.
Such Is already the fact, while the ex.
penditure of many millions of dollars by
the government, in the construction of
levees and entertainments along the great
rivers, will be necessary for the further
protection of adjoining property. Vastly
better that this expenditure be made in
holding the water where it is required in
the up,country.
Dot the farms of our Inland States with
ponds and miniature lakes, and while
they will afford health, attraction and
pleasure in thousand ways, they will
give us back the uniform rainfall we had
in the early settlement of the country,
when successive seasons of drouth, forest
fires and cyclones were unknown.